Xplora wrote:I've been commuting at 6am this last week, so many riders out there. Had to share today's experience. Under Silverwater Bridge on the north side is pretty bad for people turning towards the city. Caught a bunch halfway along the line turning off the bridge, and they responded very well (props to the cycling club in the light blue kit, well managed the corner because they know they can't just carve in for that spot).

Anyways... got into the line and realised that they weren't going as fast as I wanted so I overtook 12 club riders at 38kmh and made it stick. EPIC FTW Yes, you can start the adulation now. I'm sure that counts for huge points on the official rules!

touch wood I don't have anyone serious to follow on my rides to and from work! mind you as soon as I see someone ahead of me i'm on the tour de france and have to catch them! but most people are riding the opposite way! or are riding to the army barracks (I don't believe there are any bragging rights when an aj has 60 plus kg back pack on and passing them) I get to pass a few people on mtb doing there commute, best one is a lovely smelling young lady, (you can smell her perfume before you can see her) and you get the odd cyclist but not many! Touch wood the only time i've been passed is at a set of lights, I passed him a few km's before, I got the red and stopped , and then when it went green I started and he went pass, that's in 4 months of riding!

Thought I was going to be a CF road bike riders rabbit this morning on the M7 in Sydney.

Got on the path for my usual 10km (5km on the path) to work and saw the rider approaching with about 150m to catch me. Resolved myself that I was going to get caught and then dropped on one of the two hills that I struggle up each day (one short sharp hill one longer not too steep one) but I also resolved that the CF rider was going to have to work to get me. The flat section between the one ramp and the first hill I kept it at 26km/h and then went steadily up the first hill due to the sharp bend half way up that some riders on the way down cut the corner. Mr CF closed half the distance on this hill. I thought I might be able to take some ground back on the flat sections and across the railway bridge so I went for some gears and went as quickly as possible without pushing too hard. I got it back to where we started. It looked like Mr CF knew I was slow up the hills and was just waiting for the longer one.

Reached the longer hill - thought if I could just crest it first I would be getting off at the next exit after a short downhill - look in mirror good same distance; up I go as hard as possible - first time ever that I never fell below 20km/h on that hill Mr CF clossed to about 100m as I went over the top and went for the large chainring and kept smashing self. Next exit I got off without seeing Mr CF again.

Sure after the long hill I could take my pulse by listening to the sound of it beating in my ears - but I arrived at work happy.

Last night, I started riding home from Melbourne CBD at around 7:30pm. It was still 33C, so I took it a bit easier along Birrarung Marr at around 33kph.

As I reached Batman Ave, I saw two guys on roadies race past towards the Yarra at 40kph+. Game on. I passed the first within 300m. The next one was going faster on a full carbon bike. I caught up with him on the MYT just past the Swan St bridge. As he was going ~37kph up the incline, I stayed with him rather than passing. When we passed the crest at Morell Bridge, he increased his speed and we maintained 38-40kph along the Yarra for about 4 km (except where held up by peds and slower cyclists).

Just after the hill near Loys Paddock Reserve, I offered to take the lead and then did so. I increased the pace through the dip under MacRob Bridge and settled in at 39-41kph along the Yarra Boulevard up to the St Kevin's boathouse. He stayed with me at that pace. At that point, I turned onto the road on Yarra Blvd. I gave a "thanks for the ride" wave, which he acknowledged with the customary nod before he continued along the Gardiners Creek bridge.

I arrived home a few minutes later in a time close to my PB. I love commuting.

Summernight wrote:You'll have to spell it out to me (maybe I missed something because I have my sound muted). Apart from the baby carrier, what was it that made it so special?

Baalzamon was on a drop bar bike (CX from the sig) and the passer was on a MTB. The CX bike should be about 2 to 4 Km/h faster mainly due to better aero, but also depending on tyre differences. Therefore Baalzamon didn't want to take the insult of being passed by a MTB which should be slower.

From what I can see of the cadence of the passer, he was burning the wick at both ends and so wasn't going to last long anyway. Just having a go. Baalzamon played the standard tactic I use of catching, having a rest, then passing convincingly.

that guy was hammering along with 2" tyres on a mtb. Normally I would have roadies pass me at that speed and I was having none of that with him... I was as I said cruising doing 22-24kph, had to scoot upto 32kph to catch him, settled down to 28kph, upto 30kph when he noticed me, and then I scooted to 35kph going past him. Strong rider and for me 125kg on 12kg bike carrying clothes & 2 bidons and I've been off the bike for a bit, see my strava totals for the year so far?

Summernight wrote:You'll have to spell it out to me (maybe I missed something because I have my sound muted). Apart from the baby carrier, what was it that made it so special?

Baalzamon was on a drop bar bike (CX from the sig) and the passer was on a MTB. The CX bike should be about 2 to 4 Km/h faster mainly due to better aero, but also depending on tyre differences. Therefore Baalzamon didn't want to take the insult of being passed by a MTB which should be slower.

From what I can see of the cadence of the passer, he was burning the wick at both ends and so wasn't going to last long anyway. Just having a go. Baalzamon played the standard tactic I use of catching, having a rest, then passing convincingly.

Okies. Thanks for that clarification. MTB passing me on a road bike = bad form. Gotcha. I did notice the baby bike rider was stuffed at the end of the video and just gave up. Definitely looked like he tried to put in some effort to stay in front.

It was also 36 degrees so bloody hot hence I was in cruise mode keeping my body temp down. Really enjoyed it when I got to Yangebup lake, the temperature just plummeted a few degrees enabling me to cool down very nicely. Didn't want to but no way was I being passed by that....

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